Despite the painful loss, we should learn from Hillary Clinton’s concession speech.
Some lines are worthy of note especially for women in Nigeria and Nigerians
in general. They have been highlighted here (in italics and bold prints).
Read the full transcript of the speech below:
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you so
very much for being all here. I love you all, too. Last night I congratulated
Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country.
I hope that he will be
a successful president for all Americans. This is not the outcome we wanted or
we worked so hard for, and I'm sorry that we did not win this election for the
values we share and the vision we hold for our country.
(Applause)
But I feel
pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built together. This
vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign. You represent the best of
America, and being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my
life.
(Cheers and Applause)
I know how disappointed
you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who
invested their hopes and dreams in this effort. This is painful, and it will be
for a long time. But I want you to remember this.
Our campaign was never
about one person, or even one election. It was about the country we love and about
building an America that is hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted. We have seen
that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in
America, and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and
then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an
open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the
peaceful transfer of power.
And we don't
just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of law; the
principle that we are all equal in rights and dignity; freedom of worship and
expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them.
(Cheers and Applause)
And let me add, our
constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years,
but all the time. So let's do all we can to keep advancing the causes and
values we all hold dear; making our economy work for everyone, not just those
at the top, protecting our country and protecting our planet.
And breaking
down all the barriers that hold any American back from achieving their dreams.
We spent a year and a half bringing together millions of people from every
corner of our country to say with one voice that we believe that the American dream
is big enough for everyone for people of all races, and religions, for men and
women, for immigrants, for LGBT people, and people with disabilities, for
everyone.
(Cheers and Applause)
So now, our responsibility
as citizens is to keep doing our part to build that better, stronger, fairer
America we seek and I know we will.
I am so grateful to stand with all of
you. I want to thank Tim Kaine and Anne Holton for being our partners on this
journey.
(Cheers and Applause)
It has been a
joy getting to know them better and gives me great hope and comfort to know
that Tim will remain on the front lines of our democracy representing Virginia
in the Senate.
(Cheers and Applause)
To Barack and Michelle Obama, our
country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.
(Cheers and Applause)
We thank you
for your graceful, determined leadership that has meant so much to so many
Americans and people across the world. And to Bill and Chelsea, Mark, Charlotte,
Aidan, our brothers and our entire family, my love for you means more than I
can ever express.
You
crisscrossed this country on our behalf and lifted me up when I needed it most,
even 4-month-old Aidan, who traveled with his mom. I will always be grateful to
the creative, talented, dedicated men and women at our headquarters in Brooklyn
and across our country.
You poured your hearts
into this campaign. To some of you who are veterans, it was a campaign after
you had done other campaigns. Some of you, it was your first campaign. I want
each of you to know that you were the best campaign anybody could have ever
expected or wanted.
(Cheers and Applause)
And to the millions of
volunteers, community leaders, activists and union organizers who knocked on
doors, talked to their neighbors, posted on Facebook, even in secret private
Facebook sites.
I want everybody coming
out from behind that and make sure your voices are heard going forward.
(Cheers and Applause)
To anyone that sent
contributions, as small as $5, that kept us going, thank you. To all of us, and
to the young people in particular, I hope you will hear this — I have, as Tim
said, spent my entire life fighting for what I believe in.
I've had successes and
setbacks, sometimes really painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of
your professional, public, and political careers — you will have successes and
setbacks too.
This loss hurts but
please, never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it.
(Cheers and Applause)
It is; it is
worth it.
(Cheers and Applause)
And so we need — we
need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. And to all
the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign
and in me: I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your
champion.
(Cheers and Applause)
Now, I know we have
still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone
will and hopefully sooner than we might think right now. (Cheers and Applause)
And to all of the
little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and
powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue
and achieve your own dreams.
(Cheers and Applause)
Finally, finally, I am
so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me.
I count my blessings
every single day that I am an American, and I still believe, as deeply as I
ever have, that if we stand together and work together with respect for our
differences, strengthen our convictions, and love for this nation, our best
days are still ahead of us.
Because, you know, I
believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together. And you
should never, ever regret fighting for that.
You know, scripture tells us, let us not grow weary of doing
good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. My friends, let
us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there
are more seasons to come and there is more work to do.
I am
incredibly honored and grateful to have had this chance to represent all of you
in this consequential election.
May God bless you and may God bless
the United States of America.
CREDIT:
VIDEO SOURCE: NBC NEWS
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